“I was hoping you’d have words of wisdom for me.”
“I’m not that wise, but I can promise you, you won’t go through this alone. I’ll be right beside you.”
“Thank you.”
Maeve leaned forward and kissed his mouth. It was cautious and soft. It wasn’t a kiss borne of passion. No, this was infinitely more interesting. It was about affection, understanding, and a very different kind of need.
It gutted Nox, nearly brought him to his knees. Tears pricked his eyes and he blinked them away.
What the fuck is wrong with you? Blubbering like some teenage boy.
“If it’s okay with you, I’m going to do some work and take my mind off this.” She pulled her laptop out of the bag. “I still have to come up with an advertising campaign to wow my board members.”
“Then, I’ll leave you to it. Good luck.” He left her in his room and headed downstairs.
Nox needed to sort through his emotions anyway.
***
“How is it coming?” Nox asked.
“Slow going, but I’ll get an invite before the auction if it’s the last thing I do.”
After leaving his bedroom, he had gone downstairs to the technology center so he could check on Storm’s progress.
Storm was at the computer, typing away. Next to him was a half-empty coffee cup.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I know slavers.” Storm didn’t even glance away from the screen.
“What?”
“You heard me. I had to meet with these guys, and get intelligence from them,” Storm said stiffly.
“Well, shit.”
Nox had only been sent after terrorists, but he didn’t have to talk to them or pretend to like them. His job was to put a bullet between their eyes, and then move on to the next target. It was clinical, precise.
And while he questioned what murdering people for a living had done to his own sanity, evidently, Storm had it worse. He couldn’t imagine forming alliances or playing nice with these assholes.
“Yeah, that sums it up nicely. During my travels, I saw actual slave markets. People on sale. When you’re in history class, you think the slave trade is over, and we’ve evolved since then, but it’s not true.” Nox got the sense, Storm was almost talking to himself. “It still happens. People are held in bondage, sold off to the highest bidder. And because I wasn’t working on my behalf, I had to think of the greater good.”
“So, it happened under your nose?”
Nox turned away in disgust. He was willing to do whatever it took to protect this country, but he hated the dirty little deals people in power made, the compromises they were willing to make to achieve their goals.
“I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.” Storm’s face was haunted. “Did you ever feel like you weren’t doing the right thing?”
Nox didn’t have to think it over. “All the time. I didn’t pick the targets. My job was to kill them. I never got to see most of the intelligence and didn’t make the determination myself. I had to trust other people did their due diligence.”
“And you know how many things the government fucks up.” Storm rolled his neck and turned to face Nox.
“Exactly.” He leaned back in the chair. “My first assignment was takin’ out this terrorist in Afghanistan. It took hours to get the green light, so I had to watch him the entire time.” Nox sucked in a breath. “I saw him kiss his children goodnight, hug his wife. And then, I had to…”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
He almost hadn’t been able to pull the trigger. Nox had struggled, and his commanding officer had to give the order twice. It was the only time he hesitated. And yet, he wondered if all of his missions were legitimate. What if they missed something? What if he had killed an innocent man?
Eventually, he’d stopped asking those questions. It hadn’t mattered anymore. Nox had merely picked his targets off one by one.
“At least we don’t have to worry about it anymore.” Storm ran a hand down his face. “And maybe we can make up for any wrong we’ve done.”
Nox snorted. “It doesn’t work that way.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know what the Bible says, because I’m not religious, but in my book, you can’t balance it out.” Nox knew he had a black soul. His hands were stained with gallons of blood, and he’d never get them clean again.
But he didn’t want to talk about right and wrong. Nox had a burning question he’d been avoiding, and it was time to ask.
“What do you know about love?”
Stormy blinked. “Excuse me?”
Nox didn’t blame him. He had blurted out the question, apropos of nothing.
“You heard me. Now, answer the fucking question.” Nox crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for a reply.
Nox had been pondering the nature of love for a long time. He used to think it was complete crap, but now he wasn’t so sure. Since he’d never experienced it, how the hell would he know if he’d gone and fallen for someone?
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m curious where all of this is coming from, but I’m kind of busy at the moment. I should get back to it. We’ll hash this out later.”
Storm returned to the monitors. Sure enough, the computer screens were full of information, And Nox didn’t understand half of it.
He propped his feet up, grazing the edge of Storm’s keyboard. Storm’s right eye twitched, but Nox didn’t break his concentration.
And then he leaned to the side, reading over Storm’s shoulder.
Storm rolled his chair a couple feet away, and brought the same info up on another screen.
Smirking, Nox lit a cigarette.
And that’s when Storm exploded.
“Do you have any idea how unhealthy those are? Are you trying to kill us both?” He snatched the cigarette away from Nox and stubbed it out on the bottom of his shoe, before tossing the butt into the trash can.
“Ready to talk yet?”
Storm was seething, twitchy. Normally, he was cool and calm. Yup, Mr. CIA was losing it. Nox idly wondered what was going on, but he put it out of his head. None of my fucking business anyway.
“Fine. Are you sure you wanna know?”
“Yeah, or I wouldn’t be here.”
“Love isn’t selfish. It’s altruistic. And don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re kind of like a robot. Okay, maybe a sex-crazed love bot, but you know what I mean.”
“I’m not sex-crazed. I just enjoy the pleasures of the flesh.”
“No, I enjoy them. You’re obsessed.”
That hit close to home. His encounters with women had been sexually satisfying, but they’d all been empty, superficial.
“Maybe I’m just earthy.” Nox would be damned before he’d admit to a weakness.
“Dude, I’ve seen your penis. No, let me correct my statement. Everybody has. Not only that, we’ve all heard you come.” Storm raised his hands. “I rest my case.”
“I never figured you for a prude. Are you going to be judgmental or answer the question?”
“Answer a few questions for me first.”
Nox frowned. “You think this is an interrogation?”
“No, it’s a conversation, but I can see how you’d be confused.”
“Fire away.”
“This is about Maeve, right?”
“Maybe.”
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’ Do you think about her more than you do yourself?”
“Yes.”
It’s strange, how thoughts of her had taken over his mind. The shift had happened subtly a first. Aw, hell. Maybe he’d been a goner since he ran into her in the meeting room.
Fuck. This love stuff is insidious, creepin’ up on a man while he’s unaware.
“When she’s not in the room with you, does it hurt?”
Nox bit the inside of his cheek. Nox was starting to get uncomfortable. This was hitting very close to home.
�
��Yes.”
He wanted to lay next to her, wake up in her arms, feel the warmth of her in his bed. Being without her seemed unthinkable.
“Does her happiness matter more than your own?”
Nox nodded.
And Storm watched him, slack-jawed with wonder.
“What? Why are you staring at me?”
“Because you just hit the jackpot.”
Nox didn’t know what to say. He wanted to deny it but somehow couldn’t.
Oh, fuck me. Am I fallin’ for her?
“I admit nothin’. How do you fall out of love?”
He shrugged. “No clue.”
“There has to be some way.”
“I don’t know of any. Good luck with that.” Storm rolled his eyes. “Let me know how it works out.”
“Wait a minute. Have you been in love before?”
Storm sighed long and loudly. “Yeah.”
“What happened?”
“It ended badly.” He scowled at Nox. “Do yourself a favor. If you think your feelings are real, hold onto her. If you don’t, you might regret it.”
“How do I talk this over with her?” Fuck if he knew how to have a heart to heart with anyone.
Storm lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know.”
“The hell you say. You get along with everyone.”
“No, I lie to people, tell them what they want to hear. It’s all half-truths and misdirection with me.” His laugh was ugly and sharp. “Most of the time, they don’t even know who I am. I pretend to be other people.”
For a moment, Nox was speechless.
“Wow.”
“What?”
“I had no idea you were more screwed up than me. Kudos.”
“Yep, that’s me.” He turned back to the computer. “Why don’t you leave?”
“For the record, if you tell anyone about this, I’ll shoot you.” He was only half-kidding.
“Whatever.” Stormy yawned, evidently not taking the threat seriously.
This is a nightmare. Or maybe, just maybe, Maeve is the best thing that ever happened to me.
***
“Okay, we’re live.”
In the wee hours of the morning, Nox, Storm, and Maeve were gathered in the technology center. Storm had secured an invitation to the auction, and it was set to begin.
Maeve had worked for a couple of hours, throwing herself into the project, but she hadn’t come up with much for the ad campaign. Frankly, saving the company was low on her list of problems.
“Are you sure you want to be here for this?” Nox asked.
“Yes.” Maeve didn’t even hesitate.
“Then have a seat, and we’ll get started.”
“There are so many girls here.” Maeve watched them all on the computer screen. They were huddled together, scared. She wanted to save them all, but it wasn’t possible.
Nox seemed to read her thoughts. “I know this is awful, but you have to concentrate on your sister.”
“I know.” Although, Maeve had a feeling the other women’s faces would haunt her for the rest of her life.
This time, the slavers were masked, while the human trafficking victims were put on display. They clutched each other for support, sobbing, utterly terrified. And when one was up for auction, a slaver would grab her from the group, place her front and center and spin her around in front of the camera.
Evidently, they wanted the buyers to get a long look at the merchandise. They’d stripped the women, and both their wrists and ankles were chained together.
Maeve couldn’t fathom the indignity of it. They were being treated like animals, and it was hard to watch. A chill raced down Maeve’s spine, and she wrapped her arms around herself.
“Are you absolutely, positively sure you can do this?” Nox asked gently. “It’s gonna go downhill from here.”
“Yes.” Maeve stiffened her spine. “I can handle it.”
“You’re ready to bid?” Storm asked. “And you did what I asked?”
“Yes, and I’m ready.”
She’d checked her bank balance this morning, and there was plenty of money. Storm had also helped her find an anonymous way to transfer the funds so the human traffickers wouldn’t be able to trace the transaction.
And, to make matters worse, the government might be monitoring these sales. If she wasn’t careful, Maeve might be swept up in a sting operation.
“Who are the bidders?” To distract herself, she asked questions.
Storm scrolled through the site, squinting at the handles people had created for themselves.
“It’s all anonymous, but I’ve got a few ideas In your sister’s case, she’s probably being offered to high rollers. Maybe men who are looking for surrogates.”
“They’re going to force her to have a child?”
“Yes, and they’ll sell the child to people desperate to adopt.”
Talk about monstrous. “And what? They’ll just force her to have children? Over and over again?”
“Yes, until she can’t anymore,” Storm stiffened. “Black market babies are a high-end business.”
Storm spoke matter-of-factly about selling children. She couldn’t tell if he was immune to the horror, or simply masking it. Although, she noticed he was writing down IP addresses on a legal pad, next to the handles the bidders had chosen.
Was he planning on going after the other women?
“And there are rich men around the world with unusual appetites who’d pay a pretty penny for a well-trained sex slave.”
She flushed, not daring to even glance Nox’s way. Although, she could feel the weight of his stare.
Storm coughed long and loudly. “They’re looking for a woman they could show off to their rivals, one who’s obedient and skilled.”
She couldn’t imagine being intimate with someone who owned her. The things she’d done with Nox had been raw, frightening in their intensity. She realized it had forged a connection between them, a bond. Would it work the same way for the women who’d been bought and sold?
“This is a rogue’s gallery of upscale creeps,” Nox growled, his lip curling. “If you ask me, they all belong in supermax prison. We should be huntin’ the pricks down, not payin’ them off.”
“I don’t disagree, but I don’t have a clue where they really are. So, let’s do this,” Storm said, clasping his hands. “Your sister is up, and the bidding starts at 25K.”
Amy stood shivering in front of the camera. Like the others, she’d been stripped and put on display. Her head was bowed, and her shoulders drooped. Amy looked thinner, and her pale skin was marred by bruises and welts.
Tears streamed down Maeve’s face. “Oh, Amy….”
“Maeve, you’ve gotta place a bid.” Nox gently squeezed her shoulder, bringing her back to the task at hand.
“Got it.” She shook off the dark thoughts and concentrated on the auction.
“Dammit,” Storm said. “Two other people met the bid and the new price is 30K.”
She immediately offered up thirty thousand.
Nox let out a whoop. “Okay, one of the pricks dropped out. It’s just you and one asshole. You’ve got this, Maeve.”
Did she? Maeve wasn’t sure. The screen was blurry, and then she realized the tears in her eyes obscured her vision. She swept them away with the back of her hand.
“Okay, we’re up to 35K,” Storm said. “Can you handle the price?”
“It’s fine.” At least she had the resources to save her sister.
“Dammit, he matched it.” Nox smacked the computer monitor in frustration.
“Hey, it didn’t do anythin’ to you.” Storm scowled. “Show a little respect for the equipment.”
The price escalated quickly, going from 40 to 60K. Every time, she matched the asking price, the other buyer met it.
Maeve shouted at the computer, “Why won’t you give up?”
And then the auction stopped.
Suddenly, her sister was tugged away from the camera. The sl
aver dragged her out of the room. Then they hauled another woman in front of the camera and offered an opening price on her.
“Wait! What’s happening?” Maeve asked, grabbing the screen, as though she could somehow stop this through the sheer force of her will.
“What the fuck?” Storm rubbed the back of his neck. “The other buyer must’ve made a side deal with the bastards.”
“No!” Maeve screamed. “Amy!”
“We can counter-offer, right?” Nox asked.
“Double the amount. I don’t care what the price is,” Maeve said.
“Let me check.” Storm sat at the keyboard and fired off a message.
Suddenly, all the computer screens went black.
“What’s going on?” Nox asked.
“They locked us out of the auction,” Storm said gravely. “It’s over. Our offer must’ve made them nervous.”
“No.” Stunned Maeve backed out of the room, shaking her head. “It can’t be over, just like that.”
“I’m so sorry, Maeve,” Storm said. “I’ll try to track them down, see if I can get a physical location. I won’t stop until I find it.”
Nox cupped her face in his hands. “We’ll get these dickheads. Don’t worry. It isn’t over. Do you believe me?”
Maeve didn’t answer him.
Instead, she raced to the bathroom and threw up.
Chapter 12
“Did you locate them?”
“Not yet, Nox.” Bleary-eyed, Storm sat in front of the computer screen. “And every time you interrupt me, to ask the same damn question, you make the process longer.”
Maeve had run off two hours ago, and Nox had let her go. She needed some space, and he’d give it to her, even though he’d wanted to go after her, offer Maeve some comfort.
Or maybe you’re too chicken shit to handle this?
The truth is, he didn’t know what to do or say.
It wasn’t much consolation, but Storm was doing even worse than Nox. He’d never seen Storm look so bad. He hadn’t gotten much sleep, and he’d been pouring coffee down his throat.
“Why the fuck is this takin’ so long?”
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